Purchase Solution

Structural Family Therapy Model

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Consider the Structural Family Therapy model and discuss the following:

Provide a brief overview of the history of the selected model and its founders, and discuss the essential ideas of the approach. Cite original sources and be sure to answer questions such as:

•What is the role of the counselor or therapist?
•What is the theory of change?
•What is the target of intervention?
•What is the assessment from this approach?
•What does this approach say about normalcy, health, and pathology?
•What are some examples of intervention from this approach?
•What ethical and legal implications are there when working with couples? How would you address these implications with the selected model?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Preview

Provide a brief overview of the history of the selected model and its founders, and discuss the essential ideas of the approach. Cite original sources and be sure to answer questions such as:
In the 1960s, psychoanalyst, Salvador Minuchin, began to break away from traditional individual treatment. His client base consisted primarily of inner city families with children with behavioral difficulties and conduct disorders (Minuchin, Montalvo, Guerney, Rosman, & Schumer, 1967). Minuchin's view was that healthy families had clear interpersonal boundaries, and his interventions were aimed at helping to create such boundaries in dysfunctional families.

The assumptions underlying Structural Family Therapy (Munchin, 1974 as cited in Archer & McCarthy, 2007) include the belief that human must be a part of a social group to survive. The family is considered the basic family unit. From the perspective of SFT, the family has two functions: (a) internal (i.e., psychosocial protection of its members, and (b) external-the accommodation of a culture and the transmission of that culture (p. 345). Another assumption, according to Archer and McCarthy (2007), the relationship between the individual and the family should take priority in the counseling process.

(2) What is the role of the counselor or therapist?

(a) Role of the therapist is that of a manager
(b) He or she is to be a promoter of change in the family structure
(c) The therapist is to be a collaborator (Archer & McCarthy, 2007

(3) What is the theory of change?

The main goal of therapy is that symptoms reduction will be reduced so as to relieve the dysfunction in the family. Process of change takes place in the family structure. According to as the family environment changes over time, it is necessary to include parents and families in the therapeutic process when treating children with serious emotions. The process of change takes place in the family structure. Munchin, 1984 as cited in Archer & McCarthy, 2007) maintained that the family's involvement in critical. For ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Key Psychology Theories and their Developers

Match which psychologist developed and/or contributed to which theory.

V Axis Diagnostic Tool

It's important for all therapists to know what the V Axis Diagnostic tool is and how to use it. This quiz should be taken by learners who are not familiar with the V Axis Diagnostic Tool or who need to refresh their knowledge.

Health Psychology

This quiz speaks to the general concepts, themes, and terminology associated with the field of health psychology.

Brain and behaviour

Reviews areas of the brain involved in specific behaviours. This information is important for introductory psychology courses.

Psychoanalysis and Sigmund Freud

This quiz explores the personality theory of psychoanalysis, in particular reference to how Freud conceptualized of this theory.